I Confess (1953)

This movie isn't bad -- it's just not really anything. It suffers badly as it is now completely outdated with its blackmail and adultery premise. Even Montgomery Clift as a stoic priest is outdated. In our age of "Law and Order" and "Matlock," we all know that priests can't talk. It seems that this fact escaped this films' detectives and it doesn't occur to the priest to explain this to them: "I'd like to help, but I am constrained by my vows." But no, he'd rather look as though he's hiding something (trust me -- I'm not giving anything away, here).

Like I said, it ain't bad, but it's not good...and that it's Hitchcock makes it all the more sad.

C

love jones (1997)

Here we get a clear-eyed look at modern romance: the excitement, confusion, depression, and game playing. The couple at the center of the story, Nina (Nia Long) and Darius (Larenz Tate) play it frustratingly "safe", often guessing incorrectly what the other is feeling. While my reaction was that I wanted to reach in and bonk their heads together, I recognized the story as real and the acting as top-notch.

That said, the real reason to see this film is for the secondary cast. Nina and Darius are the stars, but it's the witty dialogue of Savon, Sheila, Ed, and Wood that makes me recommend this film.

C+

David and Bathsheba (1951)

Long, boring, blasphemous. Never have I been so glad to see ending credits roll. God-awful (pun intended).

F